{"context":"https://schema.org","type":"DefinedTerm","slug":"federal-document","name":"Federal document","humanSummary":"A federal document may require a federal authentication path rather than a state apostille path.","routeType":"federal-authentication-or-federal-apostille","sourceAuthority":"U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications or the issuing federal agency","commonDocumentExamples":["FBI background check","federal agency record","federal court document","federal certificate","USPTO document"],"whatWeKnow":["Federal documents should not automatically be routed through a state secretary of state.","The issuing federal agency and destination country matter.","Some documents may need agency certification before federal authentication."],"whatMustBeConfirmed":["issuing federal agency","document date","certification status","destination country","deadline"],"intakeFields":["document type","issuing federal agency","destination country","deadline","current certification status"],"officialSources":["U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications","issuing federal agency","HCCH Apostille Convention status table"],"sourceConfidence":"high when the issuing federal agency and document certification status are known","lastReviewed":"2026-05-10","canonicalHumanUrl":"https://notarygeek.net/apostille-routing.html","related":{"documentTypesJson":"https://notarygeek.net/document-types.json","stateKnowledgeJson":"https://notarygeek.net/state-knowledge.json","officialResourcesJson":"https://notarygeek.net/official-resources.json"}}